Using Parchment Paper in Baking

Charlie of Cheyenne Wyoming USA

Parchment paper … disposable or reusable a few times…solves the 2oth century problem of sticky pans. Today we have silicon sheets or fabric-like sheets from $4 to $10 if your budget can extend to permanent pan liners. I find sales often.

Lean and wet dough sticks the worst. My fluted muffin liners of silicone are easy to separate and reuse without washing. Dried fruits tend to adhere for muffins.

Lining cookie sheets.

Forget every recipe you’ve ever read stipulating ungreased versus greased cookie sheets. I ALWAYS line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Cookies bake more evenly and slide right off of the paper. Making more than one batch? Reuse the sheets!

Have you ever put your heart and soul (hopes and dreams) into a cake, only to have to stick to the pan? Ugh! No more, my friends! First, place your cake pan on top of a piece of parchment. Trace the bottom of the pan, then cut inside your marking. Next, butter the pan. Place the cut parchment inside the cake pan. Butter the parchment, then flour the pan. When your cake is baked, invert and the cake will fall right out—no sticking!

Measuring spices.

Maybe I am the worst at spilling spices on my countertop, but I’ve learned to clean up my act by using a sheet of parchment underneath when I’m measuring.

After measuring, I use the parchment as a funnel of sorts to pour the excess back into the bottle.

Freezing cookie dough.

Are you a planner? Like to make cut-out cookie dough weeks ahead of when you need it? Pre-roll your dough and stack it between layers of parchment paper. Place the stack into a freezer-safe ziptop container. When you’re ready to bake, your dough will be, too!

This may be the cutest use of parchment paper: lining muffin tins for cupcakes and muffins. I always think that treats baked this way look super fancy, but the truth is, making them is super easy. Cut parchment into 5-inch squares; they don’t have to be exact. Grease the insides of the muffin tins. (I like to use a paper towel to spread shortening all around the cup.)

Press the parchment square into the greased tin using a juice glass. Remove the glass and use your fingers to press the parchment folds into place as needed.

Bake your muffins or cupcakes as usual.

There you have it, my favorite ways to use parchment paper when baking. I’d love to hear any other ways you use parchment your kitchen!